Crypto Loss Triage: What’s Possible, What’s Not
You sent cryptocurrency to a scammer. Recovery is extremely unlikely, but these are the necessary steps for reporting and security.
1. Accept the Reality of Irreversibility
Understand that legitimate cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed. There is no central authority to 'recall' a payment. Anyone contacting you claiming they can 'hack back' or recover your stolen crypto for a fee is also a scammer (this is a recovery scam).
2. Preserve All Transaction Records
Immediately save all transaction details. This includes the scammer's wallet address you sent the funds to, the Transaction ID (also called TXID or hash), the date, time, and amount of the transaction. Take screenshots of the scam website or conversation.
3. Report to Law Enforcement and Exchanges
File a detailed report with the FBI's IC3 (ic3.gov) and the FTC. Provide them with all the transaction details you collected. If you used a legitimate crypto exchange (like Coinbase, Kraken, Binance) to send the funds, report the scam and the fraudulent recipient address to their fraud department immediately.
4. Secure Your Digital Life
If the scam involved you downloading software or giving someone remote access, assume your computer and other accounts are compromised. Disconnect the device, run malware scans, and change all of your critical passwords, especially for your email and financial accounts.